South Africa’s Branden Grace turned just one behind leader Dustin Johnson as a thrilling third round began to take shape at the US Open Championship.
Jordan Spieth had initially wasted little time taking charge of matters at Chambers Bay, the World Number Two holing from 35 feet on the second and 40 feet on the third to move to seven under par and into a three-shot lead.
But Spieth's lead disappeared as quickly as it had been established, the Masters Tournament winner three-putting the fourth and dropping another shot on the next after a wayward approach.
In contrast Grace hit a stunning fairway bunker shot to three feet for birdie on the fifth, while Johnson made it a three-way tie at the top thanks to birdies on the fifth and sixth.
And Johnson, who led going into the final round in 2010 only to slip away as Graeme McDowell claimed victory, birdied the short ninth to take the outright lead.
The clubhouse target had been set at one under by former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, who shot 77 on Thursday alongside Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler - the group were a combined 28 over par - but had bounced back with consecutive rounds of 66.
Johnson carded his third bogey of the day on the 11th but drove the green on the short 12th and two-putted for birdie, which was good enough for a two-shot lead after Grace bogeyed following a wild drive.
Spieth was also struggling and dropped a shot on the 11th to fall three behind.
